Perspective

Pretty-shield has two perspectives, that of Frank Linderman and Pretty-shield. Frank Linderman was a famous sculptor and writer who tried to immortalize the Montana Plains Native Americans in word and art. He would publish thirteen books and produce seventeen intricate sculptures in his lifetime.

Frank Linderman is the narrator in the book. The reader does not learn much about him in the course of the book, but only comes to know him by means of his thoughts about Pretty-shield, his observations of her, and, of course, his conversations with her. While he is a constant presence in the book, he is in the background. It is hard to detect his biases. He clearly admires Pretty-shield and her tribe; he also regards their present situation as tragic, but it is not clear to what extent he holds the United States' people and government accountable for their situation.

Pretty-shield provides...